Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
December 1, 2009
Anette Kjellgren, Anders Eriksson, Torsten Norlander
97 citations
Western users of ayahuasca describe a predictable sequence of experiences: initial motivation, a frightening contractile state, a sudden transformation, limitless expansive states with transcendental experiences, reflections, and a changed worldview with new life orientation. This structure, named the transcendental circle, emerged from anonymous written descriptions by 25 Northern Europeans who participated in group ayahuasca sessions. Participants reported many positive psychological and physical improvements, suggesting ayahuasca could be of potential interest for developing new medicines and therapies.
Harm Reduction Journal
September 4, 2017
Martin Andersson, Mari Persson, Anette Kjellgren
93 citations
People with treatment-resistant cluster headache and migraine often turn to online forums to discuss alternative pharmacological treatments, including illicit psychoactive substances. A qualitative thematic analysis of discussions on three forums found that patients are in a desperate and vulnerable situation, viewing such substances as a last resort. Psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and related psychedelic tryptamines were reportedly effective for both preventing and treating attacks, while cannabis results were more unpredictable. Users showed little interest in psychoactive effects, often using sub-psychoactive doses to avoid them. No severe adverse events were reported, but desperation sometimes led to risky behavior in obtaining and testing treatments.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 1, 2013
Anette Kjellgren, Kristoffer Jonsson
75 citations
Methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine analogue sold as a "legal high" on the Internet, produces a heavily altered state of consciousness with effects similar to both classic hallucinogens (such as LSD and psilocybin) and the dissociative ketamine. Analysis of 33 anonymous online reports using the Empirical Phenomenological Psychological Method yielded 10 themes, including altered sensory perception, dissolution of identity and body, spiritual and transcendental experiences, and re-dosing and addiction. Negative effects like fear and anxiety were also reported, and acceptance was the best coping strategy. MXE appeared to have a high abuse potential. More research on safety, harm reduction, and motivations for use is needed.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
July 1, 2011
Anette Kjellgren, Christophe Soussan
52 citations
Recreational use of the psychedelic Internet drug 4-HO-MET is characterized by drastic shifts in cognition, emotion, and bodily perception, driven primarily by curiosity. Analyzing 25 anonymous Swedish experience reports from public forums, nine themes emerged: motivation, initial effects, altered perception, unfiltered awareness, lateral cognition, blurred subject-object boundaries, heaven-like and hell-like experiences, and subsiding effects. Users described a chronological process and reported satisfaction despite intense positive and negative experiences. The effects closely resemble those of classic psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin. The authors call for further research into potential health hazards and therapeutic uses.
The Qualitative Report
January 14, 2015
Anette Kjellgren, Fransica Lyden, Torsten Norlander
40 citations
Floating in a flotation tank induces an altered state of consciousness, ranging from mild relaxation and changed time perception to powerful perceptual shifts including out-of-body and perinatal experiences. A qualitative analysis of interviews with eight patients suffering from depression, burn-out syndrome, and chronic pain identified 21 categories grouped into four themes: experiences during floating, perceived effects afterward, technical details, and participants' background, motivation, and expectations. Floating was generally perceived as pleasant. These findings may assist professionals and potential users in understanding the effects of flotation tank therapy.
Substance abuse : research and treatment
January 1, 2013
Anette Kjellgren, Helena Henningsson, Christophe Soussan
37 citations
An analysis of 40 online forum posts describes how young Swedish users experience intoxication from Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid mixture. The intoxication produced both positive effects, such as well-being and elation, and negative effects, including fears and unpleasant physical sensations. Despite these drawbacks, users often found the experience fascinating and rewarding. Smoking Spice was a social activity, typically done in small peer groups, and users kept their use secretive. The findings highlight the complex, ambivalent nature of Spice intoxication among young people.
Harm Reduction Journal
November 28, 2019
Martin Andersson, Anette Kjellgren
35 citations
Psychedelic microdosing—taking tiny, repeated doses of substances like LSD or psilocybin—is used for therapeutic and enhancement purposes, with predominantly beneficial effects reported, especially for depression. Intentions for use influence outcomes. Social interactions on YouTube focus on discussing views, strategies for optimal results, minimizing risks, and sharing emotional support. Microdosing may offer some benefits of full-dose interventions with fewer adverse reactions, but repeated exposure over extended periods could introduce additional risks.
Frontiers in psychology
January 1, 2025
Andreas Huber, Anette Kjellgren, Torsten Passie
Dream-like and psychedelic experiences often seem internally illogical, but this may reflect a distinct, premodern mode of cognition called 'mythic' cognition rather than a cognitive deficit. Thirty-one participants underwent four 90-minute flotation REST sessions to induce altered, dream-like states. After each session, they completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory and additional questions targeting mythic cognition features. Participants showed significant phenomenological shifts toward experiences characteristic of mythic cognition, with altered states exhibiting ontological parallels to mythic conceptions of space, time, and substance. The findings suggest that the perceived illogicality in altered states arises from a distinct cognitive framework, not from deficits.